30/09/2026
This is such a common concern, especially because some store-bought dressings can contain quite a bit of added sugar, salt, additives and other ingredients we may not want to consume in excessive amounts.
One simple option is to make your own dressing at home. An extra virgin olive oil base + lemon juice, vinegar or balsamic vinegar + a little mustard or tahini can make a delicious dressing with ingredients you recognise and enjoy.
But, as with almost everything in nutrition, context matters.
How much are you using?
How often?
And what does the rest of your diet look like?
If you are worried about that tablespoon of store-bought dressing you have once a week, while the rest of your diet is generally nutritious, varied and balanced, I don't see a reason to ditch it.
And if that tablespoon helps you enjoy and actually eat a big salad that you would otherwise avoid… go for it!
On the other hand, if you are regularly drenching your salad in half a bottle of store-bought creamy dressing, and having it alongside a fast-food burger and chips, that might be an opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture: not because the dressing itself is "bad", but because there may be more useful changes to make to your overall eating pattern.
And remember: there are so many options at the supermarket. If a particular dressing doesn't suit your needs, learning to read food labels can help you find an option with a simpler ingredient list, or maybe one that better suits your needs and tastes.
Nutrition is not about finding a list of foods you are allowed or not allowed to eat.
It is about learning how to make choices that make sense for you, your goals and your context, without unnecessary stress or guilt.
If you'd like support learning how to stop demonising foods and feel more confident around your choices, work with me as your nutritionist. Together, we can take the stress out of nutrition and build an approach that is realistic, balanced and sustainable.